Electric massage apparatus



Nov. 26, 1935. J. scHElDl-:GGER

ELECTRIC MASSAGE APPARATUSl Filed -May 27, 1953 of a regulating screw or the like.

Patented Nov. 26, 1935 STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,021,968 ELECTRIC MASSAGE Arramrusy Application May 27, 1933,Serial No. 673.170 In Switzerland October 29, 1932 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric massage apparatus the vibrating element of Whichvibrates under the inuence of an alternating field produced by an alternating current circulating. in a primary coil, the portion of the skin to be treated being penetrated by electric current and receiving heat supplied by the apparatus, characterized in that the secondary circuit producing the alternative field is closed by a fixed portion of i the apparatus resting on the portion of theskin to be treated, by this portion of the skin and by the vibrator of the apparatus, the secondary circuit and the alternative current circulating therein being interrupted as soon as the vibrator moves away from the portion of the skin to be treated.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagram sho-wing the electric portion of the apparatus. l

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionv through the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View showing the arrangement of the circuit breaking device.

A primary coil l and a secondary coil 2 are mounted on a soft iron core Il guided in insulated rings Il. One of the extremities of the secondary coil 2 is connected to the core 4 at i5 and the other extremity to a fixed part-3 of the apparatus at I6, this iixed part 3 being a conductor of electricity. The xed part 3 may also be made of insulating material and in this case the second extremity of the secondary coil 2 is xed directly to a Zinc ring l2 which carries the fixed part 3.

The core 4 carries at its lower end 9 a copper plate Il. Between this plate and the lower portion'9 of the core 4 a plate It is arranged having an electric resistance as far as possible equal to that of the copper plate Il.` For this reason the plate il! is preferably made of aluminium. The core 4 and the plates l0 and H constitute the vibrator which is pressed constantly in downward direction by a spring 8. It is evident that the strength of the'spring, the amplitude of vibration, the maximum and minimum liftof the vibrator and the like can be regulated by means A lever E and intermediate contacts 8, 1 enable the adjustment of the tension between the plate ll and the ring l2 and also that of the force of vibration. v

When it is desired touse the apparatus the primary coil l is connected to a source of alternating current, for example to the lighting supply main by means of a plug contact M. The apparatus is then placed on theportion of the skin to be treated in such a manner that the skin is in contact with the xed portion, namely the ring I2 and with the'vibrator, that is the plate Il. The alternating current circulating in the 5?. secondary coil 2 then travels to the portion of the skin to be treated.

Under the influence of this primary current the vibrator rises and moves away fro-m the por-- tion of the skinY to be treated. The derived cir- 10 cuit and the current' therein are interrupted, the spring 3 forces the vibrator in downward direction whereby againl closing; the circuity so that the cycle recommences. The primary and secondary coils are arranged in Isuch a manner 15 that the heat which is produced is absorbed as far as possible by the portion of the skin to be treated; this heat and also the intensive massaging eiect produced by the vibrator cause intensive perspiration from the portion of the skin 20 A being treated. The perspiration in combination with the copper plate and zinc ring form a bat-` tery cell, the pulsating current of which likewise passes through the portion of the skin to be treated with a number of pulsations twice as 25 high as the periodicity of the secondary circuit and current. This pulsated current is likewise interrupted as soon as the vibrator moves away from the portion of the skin to be treated.

It is evidently possible to transpose the copper 30 and zinc to substitute copper for zinc and zinc for copper. In this case an intermediate ring made for example of aluminium is inserted between. the fixed part 3 and the copper ring. It is also possible to provide instead and in the posi- 35 tion of this ring and this plate 'constituting the galvanic cell a source of constant current independent of the apparatus itself and electrically f connected on the one hand to the vibrator and on the other hand to the fixed part of the apparatus.

It is also possible to connect the primary coil to a source of continuous current. In this instance it is sufficient to interpose in the primary 45 current a circuit breaking device, the movable part of which may be formed by the vibrator itself as shown in Fig. 3.

No matter whether the primary coil is supplied with alternating or continuous current, the ar- 50 rangement above described considerably increases the frequency of vibration relative to an apparatus in which the circuit is not interrupted when the vibrator moves away from the portion of the skin to be treated. 55

I claim:-

1. An electric massage apparatus, comprising in combination a xed part of the apparatus, insulated rings in said xed part, a soft iron core guided in said rings acted upon by a primary coil supplied with electric current and by a helicoidal spring forming the Vibrating system, a secondary coil surrounding said soft iron core and surrounded by said primary coil, one end of said secondary coil connected to said core and the other end of said secondary coil connected to said fixed part on the apparatus, said soft iron core brought to vibrate by the combined action of said primary coil and said spring, said vibrator being under the influence of an alternating eld produced by an alternating current inducted in said secondary coil and supplying electric current'nand heat through the intermediary of said vibrator and the fixed part of the apparatus to the portion of the skin to be treated, the secondary coil circuit being closed through the fixed part of the apparatus bearing against the body across Vthe portion of the body being treated and the vibrator, said circuit and said alternating current circulating therein being interrupted when the vibrator moves away from the body.

2. An apparatus as specied in claim 1, in which pulsating current is supplied to the portion of the skin to be treated and which circulates at the same time as the alternating current from the secondary coil, comprising at least two elements forming a galvanic cell, the circuit of which is closed by the portion of the skin to be treated,

this circuit being interrupted when the soft iron core moves away from the portion of the skin to be treated, the galvanic elements being a ring at the end of the iixed part and the plate at the end of the vibrator, excited by the perspiration 5 of the portion of the skin to betreated.

Y, 3. In an apparatus as specied in claim 1 a galvanic cell composed of a copper plate and a zinc plate, one of said plates rigidly connected to the fixed portion of the apparatus and the l0 other to the vibrator and of an intermediate plate interposed between said copper plate and said iixed part of the apparatus, the electric resistance of this intermediate plate being substantially equal to that of the copper plate. l5

4. In an apparatusas specified in claim 1 a lgalvaniccell composed of a copper plate and a zinc plate, one of said plates being rigidly connected to the xed portion of the apparatus and the other to the vibrator and an intermediate plate madeV of aluminium and interposed between said copper plate andsaid Xed part of the apparatus, the electric resistance of this intermediate plate being substantially equal to thatof the copper plate.

5. An apparatus as specified in claim 1, comprising a primary and a secondary coil arranged in such a manner that the heat radiated there-Y by is absorbed chiefly by the portion of the skin to be treated.

' JEAN SCHEIDEGGER. 

